Time-controlling mechanism.



H. C. WILGOX.

TIME CONTROLLING MECHANISM. APPLICATION FILED AUG. 7, 1909.

957,398. Patented May10,1910.

344/1 vboc Jlaraae (I 112%;

HORACE c. wILcox, or HAZLETON, PENNSYLVANIA.

TIME-CONTROLLING MECHANISM.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented May 10, 1910.

Application filed August 7', 1909. Serial No. 511,762.

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To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, HORACE C. lVILooX, a' citizen of the United States,residing at Hazleton, in the county of Luzerne and State ofPennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Time-Controlling Mechanism, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to time-controlling mechanism applicable moreparticularly to photographic developing tanks, the object being toprovide a mechanism which will turn the tank upside down at apredetermined time.

The invention also has for its object to provide a mechanism of the kindstated which is simple in structure, and reliable in operation, andwhich can be readily applied to any ordinary developing tank.

With these objects in view, the invention consists in a novelconstruction and arrange ment of parts to be hereinafter described andclaimed, reference being had to the drawing hereto annexed, in whichFigure 1 is a front elevation, and Fig. 2 an end view partly in section,of the invention. Fig. 3 is a perspective view of the clamp to behereinafter described.

In the drawing, 5 denotes a developing tank of ordinary construction.This tank is encircled by a metal band 6 which is in two parts, the endsof which have matching outstanding portions 7 provided with registeringopenings to receive bolts 8, whereby the two parts are tightly clampedaround the tank. The band 6 carries trunnions 9 and 10, respectively,which are in axial alinement. These trunnions are journaled in bearingsformed on a support or stand comprising a base 11, and spaced cheekplates 12 rising therefrom, the bearings being made in the upper edgesof said plates. The band 6 will be secured to the tank 5 at a point alittle below its center of gravity, so that it will be unbalanced, andits normal tendency will be to tilt from the position shown in Fig. 1,and assume an inverted position. The plates 12 are spaced apartsufiiciently to permit the tank to swing freely therebetween. Means areprovided for holding the tank in upright position, together wlth meansfor releasing the tank after a predetermined time, so that it may tiltand turn upside down. These means will now be described.

At 13 is shown diagrammatically a timecontrolled electric circuitclosing device, or switch. This device may be a clock having its minutehand connected to one side of the circuit, the other side beingconnected to a contact located in the path of said hand, the arrangementbeing such that the circuit is closed when the hand engages the contact.The contact is adjustable so that the circuit will be closed at apredetermined time. Any other suitable time-controlled circuit closingdevice may be employed. The circuit includes a battery or other suitablesource of electrical energy.

On one of the plates 12 is mounted a base board 1 1 carrying anelectromagnet which is interposed in the circuit aforementioned, andwhich is therefore energized when said circuit is closed. The armature15 of the magnet is secured at one end to a fiat spring 16 made fast tothe base board 14, and at the opposite end the armature is bent in acurve in the direction of the cheek plate, as indicated at 17. Thespring forces the armature away from the core of the magnet when thelatter is deenergized.

To the trunnion 9 is secured a stem 18 which projects at a right angletherefrom into the path of the curved end 17 of the armature, when thetank is in upright position, and when the magnet is deenergized, thestem being then engaged by said end of the armature. On the other side,the stem engages a pin 19 projecting from the plate 12. The tank is thusprevented from tilting in either direction, and is held in uprightposition. When the magnet is energized, its armature is attracted,whereupon the part 17 swings away from the stem, thus releasing thetank, and permitting it to tilt on its trunnions, and assume an invertedposition. The pin 19 is provided so that the tank will swing in onedirection only.

In operation, the tank, containing the plate to be developed, is placedin upright position as shown in Fig. 1, and locked in this position, bythe engagement of the end 17 of the magnet armature with the stem 18.The circuit closing device will be set to close the circuit at thepredetermined time. When this takes place, the armature is attracted,

and the tank is released, whereupon itturns upside down by its ownweight, and by so doing will cause the chemicals which it contains tobecome agitated, and to act evenly on the surface of the plate which isbeing developed, thus giving a negative which is uniform in development.

The device is entirely automatic in its action after the circuit closingdevice is set, and it therefore requires no watching on the part of theworkman, thus leaving him free to attend to other work.

The trunnion 10 has a V-shaped circumferential groove 20 which isentered by a rib 21 located in its bearing, which prevents lateralmovement of the tank, and holds it in place between the plates 12.

The device is simple in structure and reliable in operation, and it canbe readily applied to any ordinary developing tank.

The drawing shows a single tank, but it will be understood that thesupport may be so dimensioned as to hold several tanks, the device beingapplied to each tank, so that they may be operated together.

1 claim:

1. The combination of a support having bearings, an unbalanced tank, aband clamped around the tank, trunnions carried by the band andjournaled in the bearings, means for holding the tank stationary, andtime-controlled means for releasing said holding means.

2. The combination of a support having bearings, an unbalanced tank,trunnions on the tank journaled in the bearings, a stem projecting fromone of the trunnions, a holding device engageable with the stem toprevent tilting of the tank, and time-controlled means for withdrawingthe holding device to release the tank.

3. The combination of a support having bearings, an unbalanced tank,trunnions on the tank journaled in the bearings, a stem projecting fromone of the trunnions, an electric circuit including a time-controlledswitch, a holding device engageable with the stem to prevent tilting ofthe tank, and an electromagnet in the circuit for withdrawing theholding device to release the tank.

4:. The combination of a support having bearings, an unbalanced tank,trunnions on the tank journaled .in the bearings, a stem projecting fromone of the trunnions, an electric circuit including a time-controlledswitch, and an electromagnet in the circuit having an armatureengageable with the stem when said magnet is deenergized, to

prevent tilting of the tank, said armature releasing the stem when themagnet is energized.

5. The combination of a support having bearings, an unbalanced tank, aband clamped around the tank, trunnions carried by the band andjournaled in the bearings, means for holding the tank stationary, andtime-controlled electromagnetic means for releasing said holding means.

6. The combination of a support having bearings, an unbalanced tank,trunnions on the tank journaled in the bearings, a stem projecting fromone of the trunnions, a stop on the support engageable with the stem 011one side thereof, a holding device engageable with the stem on the otherside thereof, and time-controlled means for withdrawing the holdingdevice.

7. The combination of a support having bearings, an unbalanced tank,trunnions on the tank journaled in the bearings, one of said trunnionshaving a circumferential groove, and the bearing of said trunnion havinga rib entering said groove, a stem projecting from one of the trunnions,a holding device cngageable with the stem, and time-controlled means forwithdrawing the holding device from the stem.

8. The combination of a support having bearings, an unbalanced tank, aband clamped around the tank, trunnions carried by the band andjournaled in the bearings, a stem projecting from one of the trunnions,a holding device engageable with the stem, and time-controlled means forwithdrawing the holding device from the stem.

9. A photographic developing apparatus comprising a tank, pivots on thetank on opposite sides thereof and below its center of gravity, supportsfor the pivots, means for holding the tank stationary in uprightposition, and time-controlled means for releasing the holding means.

10. A photographic developing apparatus comprising an unbalanced tankmounted for rotation, means for holding the tank stationary in uprightposition, and time controlled means for releasing the holding means, topermit the tank to assume an inverted position.

In testimony whereof I afiix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

VIOLA YOUNGCORT, HENRY Prrrnn'r.

